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HomeMy Public PortalAboutLicensing Minutes 10-20-16 Minutes November 17, 2016 ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: October 20, 2016 1. Special Licenses (See below): a. Armenian Cultural & Educational Center Annual Dance Fundraiser Approved 3-0 November 26, 2016 • Special All Alcohol License • Entertainment License b. Watertown Boys & Girls Club November 6, 2016 Approved 3-0 • 5K Road Race 2. Dizin d/b/a Frutti Berri Approved 3-0 127 Mt. Auburn Street • Common Victualler 3. Taha Grill, LLC Approved 3-0 D/b/a two Watertown Mediterranean Cuisine 2 Watertown Street • Common Victualler License • Alteration of Premise 4. New Salts, Inc. d/b/a La Bodega by Salts 21 Nicholas Ave Continued from September 15, 2016 • Status Hearing 5. Revise language for one-day license regulations / Continued from September 15, 2016 Add Line for General on Premises with Renewal Fee 7:35PM to 9:45PM Donna B. Doucette, Chairman Licensing Board TOWN OF WATERTOWN BOARD MEMBERS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING DONNA B. DOUCETTE 149 Main Street GEORGE B. NEWMAN Watertown, Massachusetts 02472 STEVEN W. AYLWARD TEL. (617) 972-6486 ALTERNATE MEMBER FAX (617) 972-6595 SANDRA KASABIAN HOFFMAN Present: Donna B. Doucette, George B. Newman, Steve Aylward, Sandra Kasabian Hoffman (Alternate) Ali Toloui Rahimabadi d/b/a Dizin Frutti Berri 55 Prides Crossing Road Sudbury, MA 01776 The Watertown Licensing Board met to consider the application of Ali Toloui Rahimabadi d/b/a Dizin Frutti Berri for a Common Victualer License to be exercised at 127 Mt. Auburn Street. Ali Toloui Rahimabadi appeared in support of the application. Mr. Ali Toloui Rahimabadi stated that he plans to operate the existing ice cream and frozen yogurt business at the subject property. His prior work experience is as a French teacher in the Dominican Republic and a physician, though he is not licensed to practice in the United States. He is now living in the U.S. with his daughter, who is a medical resident. The business has been at the site for the last few years. Sgt. Grady stated that the Police Department had no objection to the granting of the requested license, provided that the conditions stated below were imposed. The Health Department reported that the applicant must obtain a food service permit from the department. The Licensing Board voted unanimously to grant the requested license, subject to the following conditions: 1. The hours of operation shall be Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 2. The seating capacity shall be no more than 6, as shown on the plan submitted (annotated copy of plan sheet entitled: “Project: Frutti Berri; Floor Plan, Elevations, Schedules and Notes” dated 11/02/12, Drawing A100). 3. There shall be no alcoholic beverages on the premises. Taha Grill, L.L.C. d/b/a 2 Watertown Mediterranean Cuisine Two Watertown Street Watertown, MA 01742 The Watertown Licensing Board met to consider the application of Taha Grill, L.L.C. d/b/a 2 Watertown Mediterranean Cuisine for a Common Victualler License to be exercised at Two Watertown Street. Attorney Steve Winnick appeared in support of the application, with Moe Taha, manager of the LLC, and Suren Keryan, who will manage the premises. Attorney Winnick explained that the proposed business will be a restaurant with catering and wholesale food sales. Food preparation will be done on-site. The applicant will gut and renovate the site. He noted that the applicant is investing substantial funds in the business, including one year’s rent in advance. There is a five-year lease, with five-year extension options. Attorney Winnick stated that in the Town’s comprehensive plan for downtown Watertown, the subject property lies within a transition area, from urban to semi-urban, and that under the plan this type of development is encouraged. He noted that the applicant intends to seek a BYOB permit after operations commence. In response to a question from the Board, Mr. Taha stated that renovations are expected to take two to three months, with an estimated opening in January or February of 2017. He added that the focus of the business will be take-out and catering. Board member Aylward commented that the area could be difficult for take-out business because there is minimal parking. Attorney Winnick responded that there is a lot behind the building, which is accessible from Galen Street and Watertown Street, and that 10 spaces will be allocated to the business. Mr. Keryan stated he has previous food industry experience, as owner of a café in Moscow and operator of a restaurant in Armenia. Board chairman Doucette read into the record an October 13, 2016 letter from the Health Department to Mr. Taha, which stated certain code and permit requirements. Mr. Keryan stated that he had met with the department’s Kristal Bennet, chief environmental health officer, and that the main issue was the need to change an initially specified refrigerator unit. Sgt. Grady stated that the Police Department had no objection to the granting of the requested license, provided that the conditions stated below were imposed. The Health Department reported that the applicant must obtain a food service permit from the department. The Building Department reported that all equipment must be reviewed by the Health Department. The Zoning Enforcement Officer reported that the prior restaurant use at the site had 58 seats and that the proposed operation will reduce the non-conformity for parking requirements under the Zoning Ordinance. The Licensing Board voted unanimously to grant the requested license, subject to the following conditions: 1. The hours of operation shall be Monday through Sunday 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. 2. The number of seats shall be no more than 42, as shown on the plan submitted (Sheet A-4, “Proposed 1st Fl. Plan” of plans entitled: “2 Watertown Street Watertown MA Replace Kitchen” dated 8/27/16). 3. There shall be no alcoholic beverages on the premises. New Salts, Inc. d/b/a La Bodega by Salts 61 Prichard Avenue, No. 1 Somerville, MA 02144 The Watertown Licensing Board continued the status hearing that was opened on September 15, 2016, on the matter of the all alcohol common victualler license granted to New Salts, Inc. d/b/a La Bodega by Salts for exercise at 21 Nichols Avenue. In the continued hearing October 20, 2016, Gabriel Bremer, manager, reported that the licensee had been able to secure a new, satisfactory contractor, who will be working with an aggressive schedule. He stated that food service operations are expected to begin in mid-December. The Board continued the hearing on this matter to November 17, 2016 at 7:15 p.m. in the Philip Pane Hearing Room, Administration Building, 149 Main Street, Watertown, MA. Stephen M. Winnick, Esq. Winnick & Sullivan, LLP 134 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Re: Request for Show Cause Hearing on Vegan Boston, LLC d/b/a Wild Rice Vegan Café_________________________ The Licensing Board reviewed a letter sent September 29, 2016, requesting a show cause hearing on the operations of the restaurant known as Wild Rice Vegan Café at 71 Elm Street, adjacent to property of, Watertown Mall Associates, LP. The letter from attorney Stephen Winnick who represented the Mall Associates cited complaints regarding vehicles parked by restaurant patrons on Mall property. Sgt. Grady reported to the Board that he had reviewed parking citation issued for the period of approximately September, 2015 to July, 2016, and found only one citation – for overnight parking. He also noted that the Mall can tow vehicles it believes are illegally parked, but Police Department towing records indicate only one car has been towed in that period. Sgt. Grady added that private towing companies are required to report vehicle tows to the Police Department, and that he was able to identify only three or four reported tows for the Mall property. Board members also noted that the licensee had presented, in response to Board specifications for the license, contracts for the use of various off-site parking spaces and for display of signage warning patrons not to park on Mall property. The Board decided not to schedule a show cause hearing for November 17 which is the date previously scheduled for a status hearing with this licensee. The Board noted that Mr. Winnick and his client are welcome to attend this public hearing.